The Aether

The road from the Crimson Tower was one of darkness and uneven terrain. A pale moon lit the forest on either side and the worn path the carriage took.

“Here,” Queen Sorcha said. “Drink some more.”

She handed me another metal flask of warm brunberry elixir, something she had brewed before venturing across the borders from Allandria.

I accepted and drank enough the quench my thirst and the nagging hunger that ate away at my stomach. It was supposed to give me vitality. Though the taste of licorice lingered on my tongue, I was still waiting to feel such an effect.

We’d been traveling for hours, and Queen Sorcha sat across from me as I snuggled against Kala and fought dozing. It was cold, even with the heavy cloak she’d given me pressed tightly against my body. I was used to being uncomfortable and dreaming of warm baths like I’d gotten each night as a child.

It was good that I had experienced a better life—a normal one—but it made me realize just how spoiled I’d been. I was a princess, though my family and I were exiled, we lived a life of luxury. The privilege of a bath was a foreign concept to me now. I’d gotten used to scrubbing myself with rough cloths in frigid water.

As Queen Sorcha studied me with those ethereal emerald eyes of hers, I was never more self-conscious of the stench that rose from my body in the midst of such a delicate and composed creature such as her. While she smelled of mint oil, I couldn’t ignore the aroma of layers of sweat and dirt that rose from my rags.

“You’ll soon be returned to your former splendor, Princess. You’ll shine like a new golden coin.”

I lifted a brow. Had she been reading my thoughts? I hoped not. I wasn’t exactly sure what faeries from the Seelie Court could do.

The thought of her reading my mind left me wary. Throughout the ride, I’d gone from thoughts of escaping the carriage to find a quiet place to live out the rest of my life with Kala, to accepting my fate.

After so many years in prison, I began to wonder if I was truly fit to be a princess, or a queen for that matter. I was a stranger to the customs I should have learned while I was a prisoner. My grandmother had done all she could to prepare me, but I couldn’t help sensing I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

Then, again, there was something innate inside of me that begged to be satisfied. The Guardians had blessed me when I was born. They’d bestowed an ancient power and divine calling that I couldn’t ignore. I wasn’t the only one given the gift.

The other elements called out to me from different corners of the world, and for years I’d had to close my eyes and suppress my yearning to be united with them.

“Thank you,” I said, swallowing against the dryness in my throat. I took another sip of the elixir. “For taking me from that wretched place. I was starting to think I’d die there. Every day, I waited for the warden to open the door and march me out to the gallows.”

“It was the least I could do. After years of war with the humans, I requested the honor of freeing you myself.”

“So, you aren’t afraid of me?”

“Of course, not,” she said with a chuckle. “Why would I fear you?”

Shrugging, I looked to Kala who was sleeping, her head rested on my lap as her body took up nearly the entire seat.

“Being from the Unseelie Court usually elicits prejudice from your court. We’re all tricksters and evil creatures, apparently.”

She shook her head with a sigh. “That’s nonsense. I’ve lived a very long time, and I know that many facts have been bent to fit the perception some faeries would like to define the Unseelie. No. We were all one in the beginning. The fact that you come from the land of dark magic is actually why you were chosen.

The Seelie and Unseelie Court have been at odds for centuries, just like the humans. But, I think its time we stop dividing ourselves. The future demands unity.”

Interesting. I still couldn’t help but worry about what the faeries of Allandria would think of me.

“Did you fight?” I asked. “In the war?”

“Oh no,” she said, smoothing her emerald skirt. “Of course, not. I don’t use a sword. Well, I guess you can say I fight with my intellect. I’ve been making policies and negotiating treaties. Finally, King Aerion and the other four kings agreed to one. So, for the first time in nearly a century, the magic-born will have peace with the humans.”

I sat up a little taller. “Why? What made them agree to peace?”

She tilted her head. “Because you and the other elementals will put the world right again. The Veil between the living and the dead needs to be repaired. Emperor Jasper stalks the realms, causing pain and discord. Only you and the elementals can stop him.”

Such a revelation stunned me into silence. It made sense. They needed me to reverse the damage my ancestors had done after centuries of power struggles and war.

“So, I’m not free at all it seems.”

“Of course, you are,” she assured me. “You will rule all of the magic-born. Just wait and see.”

We settled into a quiet that left me alone with my thoughts.

Queen Sorcha yawned and opened a small book. How she could read in the dark was a mystery, but I kept my mouth shut as her eyes scanned whatever was written on the cream parchment.

The sound of the steady trot of the horses as they pulled us along lulled me in and out of sleep. It wasn’t until they made a sudden stop that I fully awakened.

“That’s odd,” she said, leaning over to look out the carriage window, and my teeth chattered as an icy wind swept inside. “Harold, why have we stopped?”

When Harold didn’t respond, I tensed. Something wasn’t right. The horses made a strange neighing sound as if they were being strangled. Sitting up in my seat, I followed her gaze out the window to see dancing flames coming closer and closer to us from the dark forest outside.

Humans. My eyes widened as I realized that several armed men were approaching.

It wasn’t until one of the lights came soaring toward us that Queen Sorcha shared my fear.

I knew my freedom wasn’t meant to last long. They’d come to kill me.